Cost of Living Comparison Between Plovdiv and Varna Cost of Living Comparison Between Plovdiv and Varna

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,068 per month in Plovdiv vs $1,194 in Varna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,734 per month in Plovdiv vs $1,839 in Varna, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,401 per month in Plovdiv vs $2,485 in Varna, rent included.

Plovdiv is about 11% cheaper than Varna, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Plovdiv and Varna are more affordable than the global median – Plovdiv 20% lower, Varna 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.72 BGN 14.51

$11.85 BGN 19.71

-26.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.71 BGN 77.7

$46.45 BGN 77.3

0.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 BGN 14.02

$8.96 BGN 14.90

-5.92%

Cappuccino

$2.51 BGN 4.18

$2.59 BGN 4.30

-3.09%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 BGN 2.41

$1.76 BGN 2.93

-17.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 BGN 1.51

$1.27 BGN 2.12

-28.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 BGN 4.98

$3.01 BGN 5.00

-0.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 BGN 4.82

$2.88 BGN 4.79

0.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 BGN 3.01

$1.86 BGN 3.10

-2.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 BGN 1.71

$1.08 BGN 1.79

-4.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 BGN 3.54

$2.52 BGN 4.20

-15.48%

Eggs

$3.32 BGN 5.52

$3.37 BGN 5.61

-1.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.87 BGN 19.75

$10.62 BGN 17.67

11.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.51 BGN 12.50

$8.43 BGN 14.03

-10.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.07 BGN 20.08

$12.25 BGN 20.37

-1.47%

Apples (1kg)

$1.58 BGN 2.63

$1.63 BGN 2.72

-3.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 BGN 2.83

$2.15 BGN 3.57

-20.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 BGN 2.75

$1.84 BGN 3.07

-10.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.56 BGN 4.26

$2.76 BGN 4.60

-7.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 BGN 1.64

$1.16 BGN 1.93

-14.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 BGN 1.86

$1.09 BGN 1.81

2.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 BGN 1.81

$1.03 BGN 1.71

5.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 BGN 1.26

$0.74 BGN 1.24

2.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.47 BGN 5.76

$3.74 BGN 6.23

-7.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.97 BGN 9.93

$8.62 BGN 14.33

-30.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 BGN 1.80

$1.10 BGN 1.83

-1.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 BGN 2.93

$1.89 BGN 3.15

-6.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 BGN 0.93

$1.21 BGN 2.02

-53.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.49 BGN 45.73

$29.77 BGN 49.52

-7.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 BGN 1.93

$1.39 BGN 2.32

-16.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 BGN 1.08

$0.66 BGN 1.10

-1.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.58 BGN 17.60

$12.56 BGN 20.89

-15.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 BGN 2.64

$1.51 BGN 2.51

5.30%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.5K BGN 54.0K

$31.8K BGN 52.9K

2.13%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.2K BGN 47.0K

$29.3K BGN 48.7K

-3.49%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$97.8 BGN 163

$126 BGN 209

-22.23%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$17.71 BGN 29.45

$18.91 BGN 31.46

-6.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.47 BGN 25.74

$15.54 BGN 25.85

-0.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.09 BGN 61.7

$40.40 BGN 67.2

-8.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.94 BGN 24.85

$14.59 BGN 24.26

2.40%

Cinema Ticket

$9.02 BGN 15.01

$8.97 BGN 14.91

0.56%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$429 BGN 713

$413 BGN 688

3.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,868 BGN 11.4K

$5,520 BGN 9,183

24.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.6 BGN 101

$59.8 BGN 99.6

1.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.10 BGN 58.4

$33.55 BGN 55.8

4.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.9 BGN 163

$93.7 BGN 156

4.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 BGN 178

$98.4 BGN 164

8.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 BGN 778

$520 BGN 865

-10.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 BGN 572

$388 BGN 646

-11.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$811 BGN 1,349

$894 BGN 1,488

-9.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$622 BGN 1,035

$633 BGN 1,054

-1.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,268 BGN 3,774

$3,359 BGN 5,589

-32.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,521 BGN 2,530

$2,134 BGN 3,550

-28.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,134 BGN 1,887

$1,212 BGN 2,017

-6.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.49

4.71

-4.67%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Plovdiv: July 12, 2026

Last update for Varna: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Plovdiv versus $520 in Varna. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 7% higher in Varna, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Plovdiv versus $46.00 in Varna. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Plovdiv vs $251 in Varna – so Plovdiv wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Plovdiv vs Varna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,068 in Plovdiv, $1,194 in Varna – roughly 12% apart. Varna costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,602 per month in Plovdiv and $1,791 in Varna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Plovdiv, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 8% less in Plovdiv. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $429 per month in Plovdiv and $413 in Varna. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Plovdiv, where all-in costs run around $1,068, than in Varna at $1,194. In Plovdiv it covers expenses comfortably, while in Varna it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Varna has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,068 in Plovdiv to $1,194 in Varna. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Plovdiv. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Varna makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.